Postseason Power Scores: X Factors, Blackman Blaze

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blackman football program has taken as big a step forward as anyone in the state this season as the team has played to their potential under head coach Matthew Kriesky and will be looking for more than just one single postseason victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That is certainly possible this year and that will mean the Blaze will have to show up for top matchups consistently and these five X-factors will be vital to those efforts in tight playoff games down the stretch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1699904' first='Jaevion' last='Elliott']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After transferring from region opponent Rockvale, the starting quarterback has taken a massive step forward this season, providing Blackman with some much-needed consistent play at the most important position in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has opened up the offense and allowed for it present multiple different dynamics as he has both lively arm and legs and can use both to his and the offense's advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has playmakers and it will be up to Elliott to keep his playmaking ability consistently present against the top opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jakeboldenmp/status/1981903853759943007","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jakeboldenmp/status/1981903853759943007 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 Cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1614217' first='Jaden' last='Lark']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blackman has a small cornerback duo, but do not underestimate their playmaking ability, because they have the ability to make splash plays and completely change the direction of games as I saw firsthand against Nolensville, where [player_tooltip player_id='1614217' first='Jaden' last='Lark'] had multiple non-offensive touchdowns in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior is the leader of the cornerback room and brings a fiery presence that lines up across from the opposing top receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He will need to turn that fire into high-level play in the playoffs, which elevates the defensive unit to an entire new level when he is playing his best football, and has been crucial to a the jump to a 9-1 record this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/connersmith04/status/1966888474340122832","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/connersmith04/status/1966888474340122832 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 Defensive Tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1648682' first='James' last='Stewart']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blackman as a team has arguably taken the biggest step forward in the state and junior defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1648682' first='James' last='Stewart'] has arguably taken the biggest individual step forward of any player in the state this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is highly disruptive from the interior and he opens up everything else for a front seven that relies on a collective effort of making plays with everyone pitching in when needed. For that to work, Stewart has to bring his A+ game every week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams try to gameplan around him, but only one team has been able to make that work: the one team they lost to, Oakland. If he is being disruptive, Blackman can cause havoc up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JamesRStewatt/status/1964344814234738914","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JamesRStewatt/status/1964344814234738914 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1103038' first='Brylan' last='Oduor']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1103038' first='Brylan' last='Oduor'] is a Power Four caliber receiver with those offers finally beginning to come in, and that is due in a large part to finally getting an increased target share this season, helping open up the passing attack in a consistent manner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a big, physical, and athletic receiver to target for Elliott that can carve defenses up working toward the sideline no matter where in the formation he lines up, but he will have to make some plays over the middle of the field against the top teams, something he is very capable of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the end of the day, if Oduor is not getting the ball, the passing attack stalls and in turn the offense stalls as a whole. This is something that Kriesky will need to figure out how to utilize consistently in each postseason game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1974208773443964949","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1974208773443964949 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 Running Back [player_tooltip player_id='1029916' first='Micah' last='Nance']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blackman is built on a strong downhill run game with multiple tailbacks as well as from Elliott and that opens up everything they do on offense, but sophomore standout [player_tooltip player_id='1029916' first='Micah' last='Nance'] presents the big-play ability to the rushing attack when given a crease from his blocks, and is someone that will have to be playing well for a postseason push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He holds a sturdy build which allows for success rushing between the tackles for the mundane yards over the entire game, but if given a lane he can get downfield in a hurry and make plays happen. That has been on display for a lot of the season this year and will need to show up every game in the playoffs to help open up Elliott to use his dual-threat abilities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/drew_toennies/status/1961250919690953082","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/drew_toennies/status/1961250919690953082 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->